Egypt’s small-scale Gaza cease-fire seeks breakthrough on hostage deal
Israeli officials are reportedly considering a small-scale Egyptian cease-fire proposal with Hamas. An Israeli security cabinet official said the potential cease-fire would involve the release of six Israeli hostages in exchange for a two week pause in fighting. The cease-fire would be temporary fix until a full-scale release of all 101 hostages could be secured.
The potential breakthrough comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Tuesday, Oct. 22, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in the wake of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, “Secretary Blinken will discuss the importance of bringing the war in Gaza to an end, securing the release of the hostages and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people. He will continue discussions with counterparts on post-conflict period planning and emphasize the need to chart a new path forward that enables Palestinians to rebuild their lives and realize their aspirations free from Hamas tyranny.”
Blinken is also expected to push for more humanitarian aid to get through to Gazans.
Meanwhile, the United States is reportedly optimistic the killing of Sinwar on Oct. 17 may spur more negotiations. However, U.S. officials admit that Washington D.C. does not know if anyone can negotiate on Hamas’ behalf without a clear leader.
Blinken will further be discussing plans to de-escalate the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon as violence continues to intensify in the region.
US investigating leak of Israeli plans to launch attack against Iran
The United States wants to know who leaked classified U.S. documents detailing sensitive sections of Israel’s plan to attack Iran. U.S. intelligence launched a probe into the source of the leaked information published by a pro-Iranian media site on Friday, Oct. 18.
The pair of documents are based on satellite imagery from Oct. 15 to Oct. 17, showing Israel moving military equipment as it prepares to strike Iran. The information describes ballistic and air-to-surface missile preparation and reveals Israeli drone movements.
Israel has vowed a precise strike aimed at Iran after Tehran launched a barrage of missiles at Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 1. The leaked documents are confirmed to be from the U.S. National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency, and originally shared by a pro-Iranian Telegram account.
Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., called the leak “very concerning.”
A former U.S. intelligence official told the BBC the unapproved release is likely an attempt to expose the scale of retaliation, and to potentially disrupt it.
The New York Times reports the leak may come from a low-level employee, and U.S. officials maintain the documents are not a “comprehensive assessment” of what the United States knows about Israel’s intentions.
Israel has launched a new set of attacks on Hezbollah’s financial operations in Lebanon. And we’re learning more about a catastrophic failure on a dock at what was supposed to be an evening to celebrate culture. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
Israeli officials said the organization held funds used to directly finance Hezbollah’s activities.
The National News Agency in Lebanon reported at least 11 strikes in southern Beirut targeting al-Qard al-Hassan. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
⭕Overnight, the IAF conducted a series of targeted, intelligence-based strikes against dozens of facilities and sites used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to finance its terrorist activities against the State of Israel. The strikes were conducted in the areas of Beirut,…
Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the THAAD missile defense system the U.S. recently sent to Israel is now in place and ready for use when needed. This comes as Israel prepares its response to an Iranian missile attack earlier this month. U.S. officials are investigating the apparent leak of two top-secret documents that show American spy agencies tracking possible Israeli preparations for that attack.
Trump works at PA McDonald’s; Harris spends birthday at GA churches
With just 15 days to go until Election Day, the campaign trail involved stops over the weekend at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s and Georgia churches.
Republican nominee former President Donald Trump donned an apron Sunday, Oct. 20, joining McDonald’s workers at a location in suburban Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. Trump chose McDonald’s as a campaign stop as he questions Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris’ account of working at a McDonald’s as a summer job during her college years.
Trump was on the fry station before heading over to the drive-thru window where he ended up holding an impromptu press conference with reporters.
Later, Trump held a town hall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he spoke about his plans for the economy and called out Vice President Harris’ changing stances on fracking — but took time to wish her a happy birthday.
“By the way, it’s her 60th birthday, so I want to wish her a happy 60th birthday,” Trump said. “Happy birthday and many more. Happy birthday. I mean it. And I do mean it, actually.”
Trump then headed to Pittsburgh to attend the Steelers football game.
As for the vice president, Kamala Harris spent her 60th birthday visiting two churches in the Atlanta, Georgia area where she was joined by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Stevie Wonder. Harris called on churchgoers to get out to vote.
Vice President Harris: Faith is a verb. It is something that manifests itself in our actions, our deeds, and our service. Our strength is not based on who we beat down. It is based on who we lift up. That's not what we see from the other side in this election pic.twitter.com/zM3yjXpJ1r
“I say as we move forward, let us look at where we are and understand the lesson of the gospel of Luke,” Harris said. “Because right now, each of us has an opportunity to make a difference. In this moment, our country is at a crossroads, and where we go from here is up to us as Americans and as people of faith. And now we ask a question, we face this question: what kind of country do we want to live in?”
On Monday, former President Trump will tour Hurricane Helene damage in North Carolina and Vice President Harris will hold a rally in Pennsylvania.
Navy confirms deaths of 2 crew members after jet crashes in Washington
U.S. Navy officials have confirmed searchers found the remains of two crew members of a jet that crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington last week. They said the crew members will not be identified until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
The jet carrying the two crew members went down during what the Navy said was a routine training flight last Tuesday, Oct. 15. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
7 people killed in gangway collapse on Georgia barrier island
Authorities in Georgia are investigating after seven people were killed when a gangway collapsed on one of the state’s barrier islands Saturday, Oct. 19. They were among hundreds of people on Sapelo Island for a celebration of Gullah Geechee history and its unique blend of African culture and American life.
The aluminum gangway suffered structural failure as historic Sapelo Island hosted an event celebrating its Gullah Geechee history and culture. https://t.co/4CW2GRYcvH
The coroner said the victims were all in their 70s, except for one woman in her 90s. Authorities said as many as 40 people were on the gangway and about 20 people fell into the water when it collapsed shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday.
A team of engineers and construction specialists is now investigating why it failed.
Millions of Cubans in the dark amid power grid collapse
As Cuba deals with major issues with its power grid, Hurricane Oscar made landfall Sunday before being downgraded to a tropical storm. Oscar is expected to bring heavy rain and damaging storm surge to parts of the country as millions are still without access to power and attempts to restore much of the nation’s electric grid have failed.
On Sunday afternoon, the Cuban electrical union said power had been restored to neighborhoods where more than 216,000 people live in the capital city of Havana, which is home to about 2 million people. However, by Sunday night, the power grid had collapsed again — the fourth time since Friday, Oct. 18.
Some Cubans have taken to the streets to protest the ongoing blackouts, many banging pots and pans and disrupting traffic.
Officials had initially said power would be restored by Monday or Tuesday, Oct. 22, but it’s likely the latest setback will delay that timeline.
It took five games and a 67-62 overtime win over the Minnesota Lynx for the Liberty to walk away with the title. Jonquel Jones was named the Finals MVP.
The Liberty had been only the original WNBA franchise without a championship, until now.
The big win also came on the same night we found out it would be the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the New York Yankees in the World Series to decide the best in baseball. Game 1 is set for Friday, Oct. 25.
Biden, Netanyahu react after Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu react after Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. And billionaires Mark Cuban and Elon Musk speak to voters in battleground states. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.
Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces have killed the man they say was the chief architect of the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which started the ongoing war in Gaza. They had been trying to get Yahya Sinwar for a year, describing him as a “dead man walking” in the days after Hamas’ first attack.
However, it appears that while Israeli forces had been tipped off Sinwar was in the Rafah area, troops just happened to come across him unknowingly during battle. It was not until later they realized they had killed Israel’s most wanted man.
The IDF released drone video of what appears to be Sinwar’s final moments, showing a man with a wounded hand, who they say is Sinwar, sitting down in a destroyed building and throwing a piece of wood at the drone. They say Sinwar’s body was found with a bulletproof vest, grenades, and 40,000 Israeli shekels.
“Since the beginning of this war that Sinwar started on October 7 — we’ve said: Our war is with Hamas, not the people of Gaza. We mean it.”
IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari on the elimination of Yahya Sinwar and our operational goals in Gaza: pic.twitter.com/OgkgUc5Bhi
Israeli leaders celebrated his killing as a settling of scores and said it could be a turning point in the war.
“While this is not the end of the war in Gaza, it’s the beginning of the end,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “To the people of Gaza, I have a simple message: this war can end tomorrow. It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns our hostages.”
U.S. officials are hoping with Sinwar out of the picture, a cease-fire can finally be reached between Israel and Hamas. President Joe Biden, who has already tried to broker cease-fire deals, seemed to have renewed hope when speaking to reporters Thursday, Oct. 17.
“Now’s the time to move on,” he said. “Move on, move toward a ceasefire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we’re able to make things better for the whole world. It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home.”
President Biden said he’s sending Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel to help figure out what’s next. Netanyahu has said Israel will keep fighting until all the hostages taken on Oct. 7 are free, and that it will keep control over Gaza long enough to ensure Hamas does not rearm.
While Sinwar’s death has sparked optimism the war in Gaza will soon end, it won’t be the end of fighting in the Middle East.
Just this month, Israel opened a new front against the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon after a year of trading cross-border fire. Hezbollah had been striking Israel as a show of solidarity with Hamas.
In the wake of Sinwar’s death, Hezbollah announced a “transition to a new and escalating phase in the confrontation with Israel.”
Musk, Cuban talk election as candidates take part in charity event
As the 2024 presidential campaign inches closer to its final two weeks, the candidates each garnered the support of two billionaire representatives to spread their message to voters on Thursday.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has appeared alongside Republican candidate former President Donald Trump at recent events, held a town hall at a Pennsylvania high school near Philadelphia. Musk called on Pennsylvanians to register to vote and described the importance of the battleground state to this election.
“You show what matters by your actions, not your words, and my actions are I’m here,” Musk said. “I’m in Pennsylvania, and I’m here for a very important reason, which, yeah, which is, I can’t emphasize, I can’t emphasize enough that Pennsylvania is, I think, the linchpin in this election. And this election, I think is going to decide the fate of America, and along with the fate of America, the fate of Western civilization.”
Meanwhile Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris called on NBA team owner and “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban to reach voters during a rally at a college campus in Wisconsin. In his address to the crowd, Cuban took aim at Trump’s trade policies.
“I mean back in the 90s, in the early 2000s, he was a little bit coherent when he talked about trade policy, and he actually made a little bit of sense,” Cuban said, “but I don’t know what happened to him. The way he’s been thinking about tariffs and trade now, something’s a little bit lost. And now his trade policies, particularly with tariffs, are basically just gibberish.”
As for the candidates themselves, they both made an appearance at Thursday night’s Al Smith charity dinner in New York City, which raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities and is a traditional stop for both parties toward the end of the election cycle. However, breaking from tradition, Vice President Harris did not appear in person.
Instead, she sent in a video in which she appeared alongside former Saturday Night Live star Molly Shannon, who reprised her famous character Mary Katherine Gallagher.
“It is a very important dinner, and it’s an important tradition. And I’m so proud to be a part of,” Harris said.
In his speech, former President Trump criticized Harris for not showing up to the event in person. Harris is the first presidential candidate to do that since 1984.
“It’s been a long tradition for both Democrat and Republican candidates for President of the United States to attend this dinner,” Trump said. “You know, it is a rule; you got to go to the dinner. You got to do it. Otherwise bad things are going to happen to you from up there. You can’t do what I just saw on that screen. But my opponent feels like she does not have to be here, which is deeply disrespectful to the event and, in particular, to our great Catholic community. Very disrespectful.”
In a statement regarding her absence, the Harris campaign said the vice president was campaigning Thursday and “the campaign wants to maximize her time in battlegrounds this close to the election.”
Texas execution of man in shaken baby case halted
The Texas Supreme Court halted the execution of a man sentenced to death for the 2002 murder of his 2-year-old daughter.
A jury convicted Robert Roberson of killing the toddler in a case of “shaken baby syndrome,” which his attorneys, as well as Texas lawmakers and medical experts, now say was based on faulty and outdated scientific evidence related to the diagnosis.
The last-minute stay came just over one-hour before Roberson’s death warrant was set to expire. However, a legal battle is still ongoing, and a new execution date could be set after Roberson’s potential testimony before Texas lawmakers next week. A House committee subpoenaed him on Wednesday, Oct. 16, as it reconsiders the lawfulness of his conviction.
Liam Payne’s preliminary autopsy report released; One Direction statement
A preliminary autopsy report from the Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office said pop singer Liam Payne died of “multiple traumas” and “internal and external bleeding.” The 31-year-old died Wednesday after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
The autopsy found a total of 25 injuries on the singer’s body, suffered from the fall. The prosecutor’s office has requested additional studies to help in the investigation.
On social media, Payne’s One Direction bandmates paid tribute to their friend in a joint statement Thursday, saying, “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Phoenix ends 21-day streak of record hot temperatures
The city of Phoenix, Arizona is getting its first feel of fall, relatively speaking, after 21 straight days of record-breaking hot temperatures.
From Sept. 24 to this past Monday, Oct. 14, the Weather Service recorded 19 new all-time highs and two days tied previous records; all temperatures well into the triple digits.
Parts of Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico have been gripped by the recent heat wave, with unseasonably warm temperatures 10 to 20 degrees higher than normal for this time of year.
A cold front is expected to move in this weekend and cool things down.
Rare copy of US Constitution sells for $9 million
You don’t have to be in a Nicholas Cage movie to get your hands on an important document from American history — but you do need millions of dollars. A rare copy of the U.S. Constitution sold at auction Thursday evening in North Carolina for $9 million.
The document was printed 237 years ago and is the only copy of its type believed to be privately owned. The copy of the Constitution was found two years ago when a property in North Carolina was being cleared out.
The property was once owned by Samuel Johnston, the state’s governor in the 1780s. The document also came with a letter from George Washington asking for the Constitution to be ratified.
Israel confirms Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza
Israeli forces confirmed Thursday, Oct. 17, that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed during a military operation in southern Gaza. Sinwar, responsible for orchestrating the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, was killed after a confrontation with Israeli troops in Rafah. His identity was confirmed through dental records and fingerprints.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the killing as “settling the score” with the man behind the attacks that left over 1,200 dead. Despite Sinwar’s death, Netanyahu stated Israel “will not stop the war.”
Getty Images
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged Hamas to surrender and release the remaining hostages held in Gaza.
While Hamas has not commented on the killing, the loss of Sinwar is seen as a significant setback for the group. President Joe Biden compared the moment to the killing of Osama bin Laden, calling it a “good day” for Israel and the world.
US warns Israel against ‘policy of starvation’ in Gaza
The United States says it will closely monitor Israel’s actions during its ground offensive in northern Gaza to ensure there is no “policy of starvation” in the region. Just days after the Biden administration sent a letter to Israeli officials demanding an improvement in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting on humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that the United States has made it clear to Israel that it must do more to address the “catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
“A ‘policy of starvation’ in northern Gaza would be horrific and unacceptable and would have implications under international law and U.S. law,” Thomas-Greenfield said. “The government of Israel has said that this is not their policy, that food and other essential supplies will not be cut off. We will be watching to see that Israel’s actions on the ground match this statement.”
Thomas-Greenfield noted that the Israeli government has asserted it does not have a starvation policy and that food and essential supplies would not be cut off.
The Biden administration’s letter stated that Israel must improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within the next 30 days to avoid legal action regarding U.S. military aid.
It is against U.S. law to provide security assistance or arms sales to any country if the President is aware that its government restricts U.S. humanitarian aid.
The Israeli Defense Forces have been posting videos on X, claiming they are allowing hundreds of trucks full of food and supplies into Gaza every day.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon stated that the Gaza issue isn’t due to a lack of aid, as over 1 million tons were delivered last year. He accused Hamas of hijacking this humanitarian assistance.
Iran warns of retaliation as Israeli strikes intensify across Lebanon, Syria
Iran has warned Israel that any retaliation for an earlier missile attack will be met with equal force, escalating concerns of a broader Middle East conflict. Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, said Thursday, Oct. 17, that Iran could penetrate Israel’s defenses if Israeli aggression continues. The warning follows a missile barrage launched by Iran in early October, which has prompted Israel to intensify its military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, aimed at targeting Hezbollah, a Tehran-backed militant group, have escalated tensions in the region. Israeli airstrikes have also expanded to hit Hezbollah strongholds in Syria, including the Latakia port, and areas in Yemen controlled by Iran-aligned Houthi forces.
Israel has made it clear that its operations against Hezbollah will continue until its citizens near the Lebanese border are safe.
Over the past year, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in more than 2,350 deaths and displaced over 1.2 million people, according to health officials. Hezbollah missile attacks during the same period have killed approximately 50 Israelis. On Thursday, Israeli forces issued evacuation orders for civilians in eastern Lebanon, urging them to leave buildings controlled by Hezbollah.
The United States has been working to prevent a further escalation of violence. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in an effort to de-escalate the situation and avoid a broader regional conflict. Despite these efforts, Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon and Gaza.
In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed 11 Palestinians on Thursday, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region. Shortages of food and medical supplies have plagued Gaza, and Israeli forces have deployed tanks into northern areas as they escalate their assault on Hamas.
Biden admin demands Israel improve humanitarian efforts in Gaza
The Biden administration is urging Israel to enhance its humanitarian efforts in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The war has significantly affected Palestinians living in the territory controlled by Hamas along the Mediterranean Sea.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 42,000 people have been killed since the war began, though the number does not differentiate between Hamas fighters and civilians.
The humanitarian crisis in the region is escalating as Israel continues its ground offensive in northern Gaza. According to the World Health Organization, Gaza is facing shortages of medical supplies, food and fuel. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced as Israel seeks to eradicate Hamas, and a number of hospitals have been damaged.
On Sunday, Oct. 13, the Biden administration sent a letter to Israeli officials demanding improvements in the humanitarian situation in Gaza within the next 30 days to avoid legal action regarding U.S. military aid.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin authored the letter, accusing Israel of obstructing trucks carrying U.S. humanitarian aid into Gaza. The letter states that the U.S. aims to see the transfer of 350 aid trucks daily into the Gaza Strip, along with pauses in fighting to facilitate the distribution of this aid.
Since October 1, over 9,000 tons of humanitarian aid including food, water, gas, shelter equipment and medical supplies have entered Gaza through various crossings.
As shown in the video, some of the aid was transferred directly into northern Gaza. pic.twitter.com/gYslbAQfNv
On Monday, Oct. 14, and Tuesday, Oct. 15, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posted several videos on X, claiming that hundreds of trucks containing food and supplies have been entering Gaza and that tens of thousands of children in the region have received vaccinations.
Polio Vaccine Campaign Update:
🔵 92,821 children under 10 in central Gaza were vaccinated against polio during the first day of the second round of the campaign.
According to the “Costs of War” report from Brown University, the United States has spent at least $22.76 billion on military aid to Israel over a one-year period.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller denied this report, stating that it conflates various factors, including direct U.S. military spending on naval operations to defend shipping routes from Houthi rebels in Yemen, which he said “is obviously not aid to Israel.”
According to Section 620-I of the Foreign Assistance Act, it is illegal for the United States to provide “security assistance or arms sales to any country when the president is made aware that the country’s government prohibits or otherwise restricts, directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of United States humanitarian assistance.”
IDF finds Hezbollah tunnels, weapons cache, says it prevented major attack
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uncovered a Hezbollah compound hidden beneath a civilian home in a Lebanese border village, which the military says thwarted a planned attack on Israel. According to IDF officials, the compound contained weapons and motorcycles and was being prepared by Hezbollah’s Radwan forces for a large-scale infiltration into Israeli territory.
IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that the bunker, located a few miles from Israel’s northern border, was intended for an attack exceeding the scale of the Oct. 7 incident. The reported plan involved Hezbollah militants using motorcycles to enter Israeli villages and carry out mass killings.
The IDF released footage that shows weapons, ammunition and motorcycles inside the bunker. Fresh food and coffee were also found, suggesting Hezbollah militants occupied it shortly before its discovery. IDF soldiers also found a portrait of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who Israeli forces recently killed in an airstrike in Beirut, in the compound.
One Hezbollah operative was reportedly killed during the raid when an Israeli airstrike targeted the bunker.
“The world is a better place without Nasrallah,” Hagari said, referring to the late leader.
Hagari also emphasized Israel’s ongoing efforts to protect its citizens from Hezbollah’s activities and affirmed that necessary measures would be taken to prevent future attacks.
In coordinated operations along the northern border, the IDF dismantled several Hezbollah compounds and seized weapon caches, including advanced Iranian-made missiles and other military equipment. Hagari explained that these actions are part of a broader strategy to prevent Hezbollah’s “Conquer the Galilee” plan: a stated intention to launch an offensive in northern Israel.
The IDF’s operations are focused on removing Hezbollah’s military infrastructure along the border to prevent attacks that could escalate the conflict. By dismantling these compounds, the IDF aims to ensure the safe return of Israeli civilians to northern regions, where tensions have displaced many residents.
Netanyahu plans strike on Iran, targeting military sites, not nuclear or oil
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed the Biden administration of plans to carry out a military strike on Iran, focusing on military infrastructure rather than oil or nuclear facilities, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The move comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, and is seen as a calculated effort to avoid triggering a larger regional conflict ahead of the U.S. presidential election.
The Washington Post reports the planned strike follows Iran’s second missile barrage on Israel in six months. During a recent phone call, Netanyahu outlined his approach to U.S. President Joe Biden, emphasizing a targeted response against Iranian military assets.
This approach aligns with Washington’s preference for restraint, as Biden has publicly opposed strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, fearing they could escalate tensions further.
In response to Israel’s planned actions, the U.S. announced the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to Israel.
The Pentagon confirmed the arrival of U.S. personnel and initial components of the system, with more expected to follow in the coming days.
Israel intends to carry out the strike before the U.S. elections on Nov. 5 to avoid any perception of hesitation. However, some Israeli officials are skeptical that targeting military sites will be enough to deter Iran from future attacks or slow its nuclear progress.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and other Israeli figures have called for a more direct approach, pushing for strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Despite pressure for a stronger response, Netanyahu has stressed the importance of strategic patience, particularly as Israel is already engaged in multiple conflicts, including military operations in Lebanon and Gaza.
Thousands of Israeli troops have recently entered Lebanon, and the military has ramped up its offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu’s government has signaled patience in dealing with Iran, possibly delaying a strike until operations in Lebanon and Gaza are completed.
The escalating tensions between Israel and Iran also come after Tehran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in early October. The attack killed a Palestinian man in the West Bank and hit two Israeli military installations. Iran’s ambassador to the U.N. said the strike was intended to “restore balance and deterrence” following Israeli operations against Iranian targets.
